Conservation Planning

The protection of Earth’s natural resources to last our generation and future generations is considered conservation. There are many types of conservation, some broader and some more specific.

What is the definition of conservation planning?

The conservation of resources and living organisms needs to be carefully planned. Conservation planning is a process of

Conservation planning can involve different parts, such as site conservation planning (assessing information about a site).

Systematic conservation planning (SCP) is a type of disciplinary planning. It aims to provide support for making decisions on alternate conservation actions. SCP takes into account both biodiversity and society costs. It aims to optimise both.

Steps to planning conservation

Let’s summarise the main planning steps to conservation planning set up by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

1. Preparation - Species or a group of species is identified to need conservation.

2. Reviewing status and collecting information - Vulnerable species or groups of identified species will have all the information collected about them. The report includes its biology and ecology, conservation status, potential threats, and pressures acting on it.

3. Build goals and a vision - Goals on how the species will be conserved and a vision on how the species distribution and well-being will look in the future.

4. Threat analysis, objective set up and performance indicators:

• Analysis of threats, the addition of more and modification of existing ones.

• Identification of potential threat drivers.

• Identification of limitations.

• Bringing limitations, threats and drivers together and analysing them to be addressed in the conservation strategy.

5. Planning actions - Planning actions that will be taken to address threats, drivers and limitations.

6. Implementation and monitoring of actions planned.

7. Evaluation and adaptation - Assessment of action will be made to improve the conservation plan further.

8. Learning and communication.

9. Revisiting the plan.

Conservation planning is a continuous and dynamic process. With our changing climate and other conditions, it will often be revised. This is summarised below.

Figure 1. Conservation planning steps diagram

The conservation area planning policy

In the UK, the general act for the environment is the Environment Act 2021. It covers improving the natural environment, waste and resource efficiency, air quality, water, nature and biodiversity and other topics.

Other policies, frameworks and legislations in the UK are more specific or cover slightly different topics, for example, the Scottish Planning Policy (PPL). The Scottish Planning Policy is a government statement that gives guidelines on addressing land planning. The policy aims for a low carbon, natural, resilient, and connected place.

Policies, frameworks and legislations also protect vulnerable areas and species.

An example of a conservation plan

Let's cover a hypothetical example using the previous nine conservation planning steps.

A red squirrel has been identified as vulnerable in Brownsea Island (England) due to an invasion by the grey squirrels.

Figure 2. The red squirrel, pixabay.com.

Okay, let's get back to our example. The information will be identified, including red squirrels' biology and ecology, conservation status and potential threats, and pressures acting on them.

For example, features of this species that can be identified:

• Size: Around 20 cm.

• Distribution: The UK, scarce in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

• Survival rate: Low if the grey squirrel is present.

• Age structure: Red squirrel life expectancy in the wild is only about 3 to 4 years. The presence of juveniles and adults will be assessed.

• Pressures acting on it: The grey squirrel - out-competition for food and squirrel pox virus.

Goals are set, and a vision is built to conserve the red squirrel population on Brownsea Island. Then, threats, limitations and potential threat drivers are analysed. The actions are then planned. In this case, let's say that the action taken will be:

• Culling (selective slaughter) of the grey squirrel because red and grey squirrels cannot live together.

• Vaccination against the grey squirrels pox is introduced.

• Introduction of pine martens.

After some time, the action plan will be assessed again, and evaluations made on the effects. Let's say that the grey squirrel population has declined to almost nothing, and the red squirrel population has recovered. Although the outlook is positive, the red squirrel population will still be closely monitored, and the plan will periodically be revisited.

A list of habitat conservation plans in the UK

Protected areas exist to preserve our environment's environmental, cultural and historical values. Let's cover some of the protected areas.

Biodiversity conservation plan areas

• Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) / Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI): Includes Ramsar sites (Wetlands), Special protection areas (SPAs) and Special Areas of Conservation (SAC). Sites that are of biological or geological interest.

• Marine protected area (MPA): parts of the ocean with restricted human activity.

• SAC: Habitats directive to protect habitats and species.

• SPA: Protection of wild birds.

Areas to protect the scenic value

• National parks: areas with a landscape with little or no human development.

• Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) (in most of the UK, except Scotland): Areas conserved due to their natural beauty.

• National Scenic Area (Scotland): Similar to AONB, protection of landscapes of natural beauty and protection from human development.

Areas to protect the geodiversity value

• SSSIs

• Regionally Important Geological Sites (RIGS): Set up for the importance of Earth Science or preserving heritage.